University of Oregon sophomore Lauren Plum and the U.S. Women’s Junior National Volleyball Team narrowly missed out on the gold medal match as they fell in the semifinals, 3-2, to Brazil on Saturday at the FIVB Women’s Junior World Championships held in Lima, Peru at the Eduardo Dibos Gymnasium.
Trailing 0-2 after dropping the first two sets, 25-15 and 25-19, the U.S. squad battled back in the third and fourth sets by counts of 25-20 in each contest. In the fifth set finale, Team USA fell 16-14.
With the loss, the U.S. squad faced China in the bronze medal match Sunday night, while Brazil and Italy, who swept China on Saturday, will meet in the gold medal match. The Americans have never medaled in the event, dating back to 1977, and is guaranteed to equal its best finish ever (fourth) from 2007.
Plum started the first set at setter, before Hannah Allison took over in the final four sets. The duo ended with four and 20 assists, respectively. As a team, the Americans hit .345 to Brazil’s .335.